Algerian Radio
The 26th edition of the Tour of Algeria cycling race (TAC-2026), scheduled from April 17 to 26 over a total distance of 1,697.6 km, will be marked by a strong presence of professional teams that have already participated in various international cycling events.
The starting signal for TAC-2026 will be given on April 17 in the wilaya of Oran, with a varied 126.7 km route promising an exciting start to this major sporting event, while the finish of the 10th and final stage is scheduled for Tizi-Ouzou at the foot of Mount Djurdjura, covering a distance of 108 km.
The 2026 edition will be dedicated to the memory of the late Abdelkader Merabet, a former national coach and educator whose dedication to his passion was always his driving force.
"The Algerian Cycling Federation is working hard in partnership with the various wilaya leagues involved in the passage of the TAC-2026 caravan to be ready on the big day. We have held several working meetings with local authorities to ensure the success and smooth running of this 26th edition," declared Kheireddine Barbari, President of the FAC, who was a guest at the sports press forum of the National Organization of Algerian Sports Journalists (ONJSA), held Sunday in Algiers and dedicated to the presentation of TAC-2026.
Over a total course of 1,697.6 km, TAC-2026 will cross 9 wilayas of the country: Oran, Tlemcen, Sidi Bel Abbes, Mostaganem, Chlef, Hammam Righa (Ain Defla), Chrea (Blida), Tizi-Ouzou, and Algiers.
"We have designed a ten-stage route for TAC-2026, starting in Oran, the birthplace of the late Abdelkader Merabet. The route has been meticulously planned both in terms of technical aspects and the beauty of the landscapes, with the aim of ensuring significant public enthusiasm during the caravan's passage and at the stage finishes," Barbari specified.
For this new edition of the TAC, the organizers have opted for high-level participation by welcoming renowned national selections and top continental and international formations.
"The quality of the peloton is a significant factor in raising the level of the TAC, which continues to gain prestige year after year. Mastering every detail of the organization is the key to the success of previous editions, where our partners were the true architects," the FAC president added.
To achieve this, the 2026 edition will feature 21 teams, including nine foreign formations, three national teams, and nine Algerian teams.
Among the countries selected to take part in this competition are England, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Indonesia, Tunisia, South Africa, the Sultanate of Oman, and Lithuania.
On this occasion, the FAC president called on all partners to make this 26th edition a must-see event in African cycling.
"The Tour of Algeria has become a highly anticipated competition for participating countries, whose numbers increase year after year. With a win-win partnership, we are convinced that even more economic partners will join us for the TAC, which will move to version 2.1 next year—a version that is much more demanding in terms of organization and foreign team participation," he said.
He also praised the unwavering support of the local authorities in the wilayas crossed, as well as the volunteers working behind the scenes to promote Algeria's brand image.
On the sidelines of TAC-2026, an ambitious program has been prepared by the organizers, intended exclusively for schoolchildren who will have the opportunity to participate in the "P'tit tour" across all communes involved in the caravan's passage.
"We believe that organizing the Tour of Algeria is a way to promote local tourism and highlight our country's natural and architectural heritage, beyond the sporting and technical aspects of such an event. It involves all local departments with the aim of showcasing Algeria's image," Barbari concluded.
Spain's Jorge Gual Martinez has been appointed by the International Cycling Union (UCI) to chair the jury of commissioners for TAC-2026.
